Drum car and coupling apparatus for carrying and feeding concrete in tunnels

ABSTRACT

A PLURALITY OF AGITATOR AND FEEDING DRUMS ARE MOUNTED ON TRUCKS FOR MOVEMENT ALNG RAILROAD TRACKS INTO TUNNELS OR THE LIKE, EACH DRUM HAVING A FORWARDLY-MOVING GATE AT EACH END THEREOF. THE FRONT GATE (OR DOOR) OF EACH DRUM IS ADAPTED TO BE LOCKED BY A NUT AND HANDWHEEL DURING MOVEMENT OF THE DRUM ALONG THE TRACKS. THE BACK GATE OF EACH DRUM IS ADAPTED TO BE SHIFTED FORWARDLY IN RESPONSE TO COUPLING OR TELESCOPING MOVEMENT OF THE FORWARD END OF AN ADJACENT DRUM. SPRING MEANS ARE PROVIDED TO EFFECT AUTOMATIC CLOSING OF THE BACK GATE IN RESPONSE TO UNCOUPLING OF THE AGITATOR DRUMS, FOLLOWING WHICH THE FRONT GATE OF EACH DRUM MAY BE LOCKED BY THE ABOVE-INDICATED NUT AND HANDWHEEL.

R. D. MORAN 3,567,190 DRUM CAR AND COUPLING APPARATUS FOR CARRYING March 2 1971 AND FEEDING CONCRETE IN TUNNELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

lil FENIIIIIIIII lNV-ENTOR. 2/1) D. Mam/v March 2, 1971 v R. D. MORAN 3,557,199 DRUM CAR AND COUPLING APPARATUS FOR CARRYING AND FEEDING CONCRETE IN TUNNELS Filed Dec. 12, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet I INVENTOR. 8A) 0. Moe/w ,zdw/z R. D. MORAN 3,567,190 DRUM CAR AND COUPLING APPARATUS FOR CARRYING March 2 1971 AND FEEDING CONCRETE IN TUNNELS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. '12, 1968 INVENTOR. F4) 0. Mom/v B Q1? March 2, 1971 R. D. MORAN 3,567,199

DRUM CAR AND COUPLING APPARATUS FOR CARRYING AND FEEDING CONCRETE IN TUNNELS Filed Dec. 12, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 66 ,{d r r [A 6 L r/ W? W INVENTOR. 64V 0. MOE/4W United States Patent DRUM CAR AND COUPLING APPARATUS FOR CARRIHN G AND FEEDING CONCRETE IN TUNNELS Ray D. Moran, 1313 N. Raymond Ave., Fullerton, Calif. 92631 Filed Dec. 12, 1968, Ser. No. 783,183 Int. Cl. B28c /18 US. 'Cl. 259-177 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A plurality of agitator and feeding drums are mounted on trucks for movement along railroad tracks into tunnels or the like, each drum having a forwardly-moving gate at each end thereof. The front gate (or door) of each drum is adapted to be locked by a nut and handwheel during movement of the drum along the tracks. The back gate of each drum is adapted to be shifted forwardly in response to coupling or telescoping movement of the for-ward end of an adjacent drum. Spring means are provided to effect automatic closing of the back gate in response to uncoupling of the agitator drums, following which the front gate of each drum may be locked by the above-indicated nut and handwheel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to the field of drum-car apparatus for carrying and then feeding concrete into tunnels or into other locations where access is limited.

Description of the prior art Prior-art apparatus of the present general type incorporated forward gates or doors which were held in position by latch means, such latch means extending radiallyinwardly from the telescoping nose portion of each agitator drum. Such apparatus also incorporated back gates or doors which did not move forwardly or inwardly into the drum, but instead shifted rearwardly and upwardly in the general manner of a typical garage door. Such latch means, and more importantly such back gates of the garage-door type, were expensive, complex, and difficult and awkward to employ. The back gates did not open automatically but instead required manual opening and also closing. Furthermore, the relatively complex mechanism of such back gates (and also the latches on the front gates) tended to become clogged and difficult to operate due to accumulations of concrete thereon.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, the back gate of the garage-door type is replaced by a forwardlymoving spring-biased gate which is automatically opened in response to telescoping coupling of two adjacent agitator drums, and is automatically closed in response to uncoupling of the drums. Sealing means are provided at the back end of each drum, and effect sealing whether the drums are in coupled or uncoupled condition. Each back gate combines with the front gate of the telescoped adjacent drum car to define a space between which is mounted the handwheel which locks the front gate in closed condition during transport of the drum. Means are provided to cover and protect the threads of the shaft on which the handwheel-nut assembly is mounted. Automatic gate actuation is achieved in a simple, practical, economical and foolproof manner without the necessity of any manual operation except spinning of the handwheel.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the adjacent front and back ends of agitator drums constructed in accordance with the present invention, the drawbar being extended during movement of such drums along the railroad track or roadbed;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, primarily in longitudinal central section, illustrating the two adjacent drum cars of FIG. 1 in coupled condition permitting forward feeding of the contained concrete in response to rotation of the drums;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view illustrating a joint gasket or seal which prevents leakage of concrete out of the back end of each drum car during transport along the track;

FIG. 4 is a corresponding view illustrating the same seal employed to prevent leakage of concrete when the drums are coupled;

FIG. 5 is a vie-w illustrating the front end of a drum car;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal central sectional view of the complete drum car;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the gasket portion of the front gate assembly;

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional view on line 88 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the back end of (:11 drum car, showing the back gate in closed condition; an

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the front end of a drum car, showing the front gate in closed condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Throughout this specification and claims, the description of one of the gate assemblies as being the front or forward gate, and the other assembly as being the back or rear gate, is not to be regarded as limiting in any manner since the cars and the directions of drum rotation could be reversed. Also, although the present construction relates to agitator drums which are adapted to move along railroad tracks, it is possible in some instances to provide wheels which ride along roadbeds.

Each agitator drum car comprises a supporting frame 10 which is mounted on trucks 11 on track 12. The frames of adjacent truck cars are connected together by means of telescopic drawbars (or pushbars) 13 having extended positions indicated in FIG. 1 and telescoped positions indicated in FIG. 2. Suitable means, such as pins 14, are provided to maintain the drawbars in the extended or the telescoped positions.

The elongated hollow body 15 of each agitator drum car is cylindrical and is provided with charging hatches 16 through which concrete may be introduced. The cars may thus be loaded with concrete, for example to 60% (or more) of full capacity. At the rear end of body 15 is a frustoconical transition portion 17, there being a back gate or door assembly 18 adapted when open to permit inflow of concrete into the open smaller-diameter (month) end of the transition portion. At the front end of body 15 is another frustoconical transition portion 19. Such portion 19 connects to a tubular nose portion 20 having a diameter substantially smaller than that of body 10, and adapted to telescope into the mouth of transition portion 17 as indicated in FIG. 2. A front gate or door assembly 21 is provided at the forward end of tubular portion 20 as will be described hereinafter.

Rigidly mounted on the transition portions 17 and 19 are bearing rings 23 (FIG. 6) which are adapted to be supported on trunnion rollers 24 (FIG. 2), the rollers being rotatably mounted on the supporting frame 10. Thus,

each drum is adapted to be rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof in order to effect agitation of the concrete therein, and also to effect forward feeding of the concrete as will be described.

A sprocket 25 (FIGS. 1 and 6) is mounted on transition portion 19 and is adapted to be driven by a chain which is powered by an electric motor 26 (FIGURES 1, and 6) mounted in piggyback relationship on the forward portion of each agitator car. Each motor 26 is supplied with power from a suitable power line or source located at the job site, and is controlled by a control panel represented at 27 in FIG. 5. A suitable shield or guard is provided around the sprocket 25 and the drive chain therefor, such shield being represented at 28.

A hollow tube or quill 30 is fixedly mounted axially of each agitator drum for the majority of the length thereof (FIG. 6), the rear end of such shaft terminating radially-inwardly from the junction between drum body and transition portion 17. The forward end of the hollow shaft terminates within the nose portion in spaced relationship from the open end thereof. Struts or spider elements 31 (FIG. 8) extend radially-inwardly from the walls of the drum car to the shaft in order to fixedly support the same at its axial location.

A helically-shaped warped blade 32 is welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the internal wall of drum body 15, front transition portion 19, and nose 20, as best illustrated in FIG. 6. A second blade 32 is also provided in the transition portion 19 and nose 20. The interior edges of the blades are spaced substantial distances away from the central shaft or quill 30 at regions within body 15 and portion 19. There need be no helical blade in the rear transition portion 17.

In the tubular nose portion 20, the flights of the blades extend substantially the entire distance to the quill 30 and parts associated therewith. Accordingly, the flights contained within the tubular nose 20 act as a gate preventing substantial outflow of concrete except during periods when the drum is being rotated. It follows that the front gate assembly 21 may be unlocked, prior to telescoping of the drums, without danger that concrete will spill out onto the ground.

Proceeding next to a detailed description of such front gate assembly, this is best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 10 to comprise a solid cylindrical shaft 33 having an enlarged base 34 which fits snugly within the forward end of quill 30 and is locked therein by means of a pair of cross bolts 35. The forward end of the shaft 33 is threaded, for example having the illustrated square thread 36, and projects a substantial distance forwardly from the front end of nose 20.

An elongated sleeve 37 is mounted on shaft 33 and has press-fit therein suitable bronze bearings 38 which facilitate sliding of the sleeve not only on the unthreaded portion of the shaft but also on the threaded portion thereof. A radial flange 39 extends outwardly from the forward end of the sleeve and is suitably secured by welding or other means to a disc-shaped plate 41 which in turn extends outwardly almost (but not quite) the full distance to the interior wall of nose 20.

Referring particularly to FIG. 7, a sealing gasket assembly is provided at the peripheral portion of plate 41, comprising an annular gasket 42 which is secured by suitable fasteners between a backup ring 43 and the periphery of disc 41. The relationship is such that the rear surface of the gasket will be in sealing abutment with the forward edge or rim of nose 20 when the disc-shaped plate 41 is in the closed position illustrated in FIGS .7 and 10.

A nut 44 is mounted on the thread 36 and is adapted to be rotated, by means of a suitable handwheel 46 (or other actuating means), between the locking position of FIGS. 6 and 10 and the unlocking position of FIG. 2. Forward shifting of the nut is prevented by a stop flange 47 at the shaft end- Flange 47 not only acts to s p the 4 nut but also as an abutment means to actuate the rear door assembly 18 to the open condition of FIG. 2.

It is emphasized that the sleeve 37 is sufficiently long that thread 36 will be fully covered and protected when the sleeve is in the forward or open position of FIG. 2, thus preventing any substantial contact of concrete with the thread. The rear end of rear bearing 38, and the related base shoulder of shaft 33 (as well as other similar portions of the apparatus), are caused to be frustoconical and outwardly convergent in order to aid in preventing buildup or ingress of concrete or grout.

After the agitator drum car has come to rest, and before rotation thereof is initiated, the operator merely spins the handwheel 46 in order to shift the nut from the locking position of FIGv 10 to the unlocking position of FIG. 2. However, due to the pressure of the flights of the screw blades 32 within nose 20, the concrete in such nose does not then effect forward shifting of the disc 41 and the sleeve 37. After the cars have been telescoped or coupled as shown in FIG. 2, and drum rotation is caused to commence, the forwardly-feeeding concrete shifts the disc 41 and connected sleeve 37 to the forward position of FIG. 2, so that the concrete then flows outwardly into the transition portion 17 of the forward car.

Each back gate of door assembly 18 comprises a rigid metal disc 48 (FIG. 9) the apertured central portion of which is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to a hub plate 49. Plate 49, in turn, is fixedly secured to the rear end of a shaft 51 which is mounted slidably in bearings 52 and 53, the latter being rigidly secured in the hollow tube or quill 30. A flange 54 is suitably secured at the forward end of shaft 51, being a sliding fit within quill 30 and serving as the rear seat for a helical compression spring 56. The forward seat for such spring 56 comprises a bulkhead or stop partition 57 which is suitably locked in the quill 30 and is provided with a vent opening to prevent compression of air in response to forward movement of flange 54.

The gate or door assembly 18 further comprises a sealing or gasket mean to prevent leakage of concrete around the periphery of the disc 48 when the gate is closed, and also to prevent leakage of concrete around the nose 20 when adjacent cars are in telescoped relationship as shown in FIG. 2. Such means is best illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, and comprises an annular elastomeric element 58 the outer portion of which is locked between a backup ring 59 and a flange 60 which is formed on the smaller-diameter back end of transition portion 17. Suitable means, for example the indicated fasteners 61, are provided to lock the sealing ring 58 between elements 59 and 60.

The peripheral edge of disc 48 is bent rearwardly to form a sealing flange 62 adapted to abut the forward surface of elastomeric element 58 at regions radially adjacent the rear or mouth end of transition portion 17. Thus, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, such abutment (which is under the spring pressure exerted by compression spring 56) provides a tight sealing relationship insuring against leakage of concrete or grout. As shown in FIG. 4, the elastomeric element 58 extends inwardly sufiiciently far that it will be in tight sealing engagement with the outer surface of cylindrical nose 20 when such nose is telescoped into the transition portion 17 as illustrated. Again, therefore, leakage of concrete or grout is insured against. It follows that the same element 58 and associated parts effect the desired sealing functions not only when the agitator drums are coupled (FIG. 4) but also when they are uncoupled (FIG. 3).

OPERATION A train of agitator drum cars, of any desirable length (for example, four cars) is coupled together by means of drawbars 13. The drawbars 13 are then in their extended positions as shown in FIG. 1, so that the agitator drums are maintained spaced as illustrated. An engine is then provided at the rear end of the train to push the same forwardly into a tunnel or the like in order that the concrete contained within the drums may be delivered to suitable apparatus for use in lining the tunnel with concrete.

After the engine has pushed the train into the tunnel to the desired location, connections are made between the control panels 27 (FIG. and a suitable local source of electric power. However, the motors 26 are not yet started. Instead, the handwheels 46 are spun to cause the associated nuts 44 to move outwardly from the locking positions of FIG. to the open positions of FIG. 2. However, as above stated, the forward gates or doors nevertheless remain in contact with the front ends of tubular nose portions since the flight portions 32 within such portions 20 prevent lateral movement of concrete in the absence of drum rotation.

The draw or pushbars 13 are then adapted (by pulling pins 14) to permit telescoping of the rear cars forwardly into the forward cars as shown in FIG. 2. The engine is then employed to push the rear cars forwardly in a domino manner, each stop or actuating flange 47 of each front assembly 21 then centrally engaging an associated hub plate 49 of each rear assembly 18. Thus, the hub plates 49 and associated gates or discs 48 are shifted axially forwardly despite the rearward spring bias of the compression springs 56, such forward shifting continuing to fully open the back gate assemblies 18 as shown in FIG. 2. It is pointed out, however, that the front gate assemblies are not yet open.

As the forwardly-projecting shafts 33 and the flanges 47 push the gate discs 48 open, the cylindrical noses 20 are forced through the elastomeric sealing elements 58 (FIG. 4) to insure against leakage out the back ends of the agitator drums as described above.

The control panels 27 on the various cars are then operated to start the motors 26. The sprockets on the various drums are then chain driven to effect rotation of the drums about their longitudinal axes in order to effect agitation of the concrete and also to effect forward feeding thereof. In regard to the latter, it is pointed out that the concrete contained between each two adjacent flights of the helical blade 32 is caused by gravity to tend to remain near the bottom of the drum. The direction of rotation is caused to be such that the flights push the concrete forwardly along the drum bottoms as rotation continues.

The indicated forward movement of the concrete forces the same through the nose portions 20' and against gate plates 41, shifting the latter and their connected sleeves 37 to the forward positions of FIG. 2. Thus, the concrete may flow from nose portions 20 into the transition portions 17 and thus into the next-forward drum cars.

As previously indicated, sleeves 37 prevent the concrete from engaging threads 36. The adjacent gate discs or plates 48 and 41 (FIG. 2) tend to prevent the concrete from building up on the handwheels 46.

After all of the concrete has passed through the various cars and been delivered from the forward car to the forms employed to line the tunnel, the above-indicated procedure is reversed. Thus, the engine is employed to pull or stretch out the train and thus shift the drawbars 13 to their elongated positions (FIG. 1). As this occurs, the nose portions 20 are shifted out of the transition portions 17 of the next-forward cars. The compressed springs 56 then operate through shafts 51 to press discs 48 rearwardly until the flanges 62 thereon are in the sealing engagement with elastomeric elements 58 shown in FIG. 7. The rear gate assemblies 18 thus close automatically when the cars are shifted out of telescoping relationship. The forward gate assemblies 21 are readily closed by merely spinning the handwheels 46 to force sleeves 37 and discs 41 rearwardly until gaskets 42 sealingly engage the front edges or rims of nose portions 20. The train is thus prepared for a new cycle of operation.

The foregoing detailed description is to be clearly understood as given by way of illustration and example only, the spirit and scope of this invention being limited solely by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for carrying and feeding concrete in tunnels, which comprises:

an elongated agitator and feeding drum,

said drum having an open front end adapted to be telescopically introduced into the open back end of a corresponding drum,

said drum having an open back end adapted to telescopically receive the open front end of a corresponding drum,

wheeled support means to movably support said drum for transport thereof longitudinally along a track or roadbed,

means to rotatably support said drum on said support means for rotation of said drum about the longitudinal axis thereof,

blade means mounted in said drum and responsive to rotation thereof about said axis to feed concrete therethrough from the back end to the front end thereof,

means to rotate said drum about said axis,

a front gate assembly to close said open front end of said drum during said movement along said track or roadbed, and

a back gate assembly to close said back end of said (gram during said movement along said track or roadsaid back gate assembly including a back gate portion adapted to be shifted in a forward direction into said drum to thereby open said back end for reception of concrete from a corresponding drum telescoped therein.

2. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which spring bias means are provided in said back gate assembly to maintain the same closed except during periods when the front end of a corresponding drum is telescoped into said back end. 1

3. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which at least part of back end of said drum diverges forwardly from the opening therein, in which said back gate portion is adapted to seat around said opening, in which a shaft 1s connected to said back gate portion, in which means are provided to slidably support said shaft for shifting thereof longitudinally of said drum, and in which resilient means are provided to bias said shaft and thus said back gate portion rearwardly into seated position adjacent said opening.

4. The invention as claimed in claim 3, in which an elastomeric sealing element is mounted on said drum around said back opening and is shaped to seat the peripheral edge of said back gate portion, said sealing element being shaped to sealingly receive the open front end of a corresponding drum in order to prevent leakage of concrete when corresponding drums are in telescoped relationship.

5. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which said front gate assembly comprises a shaft mounted generally axially of said drum and projecting forwardly therefrom, said shaft having a threaded forward end portion, said shaft being adapted to engage and open the back gate portion of a corresponding drum, a front gate element movably mounted around said shaft and adapted to engage said drum around the front opening therein, and nut means threadedly mounted on said threaded shaft portion to lock said front gate element in closed position at said front drum opening.

6. The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which the portion of said blade means in the forward end of said drum has such a shape that movement of concrete therethrough is substantially prevented in the absence of rotation of said drum, whereby said nut means may be shifted away from said front gate element without causing leakage of concrete from said drum.

7. The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which a handwheel is mounted on said nut means for rotation thereof.

8. The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which an elongated sleeve is slidably mounted on said shaft and is connected to said front gate element to movably support the same, said sleeve being shaped to protect and cover said threaded shaft portion when said nut means is in unlocking position and said front gate element is in open position.

9. The invention as claimed in claim 5, in which a combination stop and abutment element is mounted at the forward end of said shaft to prevent excessive movement of said nut means, and to engage and open the back gate assembly of a corresponding drum.

10. The invention as claimed in claim 1, in which at least part of the back end of said drum diverges forwardly from the opening therein, in which said back gate portion is adapted to seat around said opening, in which a shaft is connected to said back gate portion, in which means are provided to slidably support said shaft for shifting thereof longitudinally into said drum, in which resilient means are provided to bias said shaft and thus said back gate portion rearwardly into seated position adjacent said opening, said back gate portion being adapted to be shifted forwardly into open position permitting introduction of concrete into said drum, and in which said front gate assembly comprises a shaft mounted generally axially of said drum and projecting forwardly therefrom, said shaft having a forward end portion adapted to engage and open the back gate portion of a corresponding drum, a front gate element movably mounted around said shaft and adapted to engage said drum around the front opening therein, and means to lock said front gate element in closed position at said front drum opening.

11. The invention as claimed in claim 10, in which said shaft in said front gate assembly has a threaded portion, and in which said lock means comprises nut means threadedly mounted on said threaded shaft portion to lock said front gate element in closed position at said front drum opening.

12. The invention as claimed in claim 10, in which a quill is fixedly mounted within said drum for substantially the full length thereof, the back end of said quill being said means to slidably support said shaft for said back gate portion, the front end of said quill being connected in supporting relationship to said shaft for said front gate assembly.

13. The invention as claimed in claim 12, in which said drum has a relatively large-diameter elongated body, a rearwardly-converging frustoconical backend portion connected to the back end of said body, a forwardly-converging transition portion connected to the forward end of said body, and an elongated relatively small-diameter cylindrical nose portion extending forwardly from said transition portion.

14. The invention as claimed in claim 13, in which said blade means comprises a helical feed-screw blade fixedly mounted in said drum in at least said body, said transition portion and said nose portion.

15. The invention as claimed in claim 14, in which the blade means in said nose portion is double.

16. A gate assembly for a concrete carrying and feeding drum, which comprises:

a shaft,

a hollow quill adapted to be mounted axially of a concrete carrying and feeding drum,

said quill being adapted to slidably receive said shaft,

spring means mounted in said quill to bias said shaft to an extended position,

a gate element mounted on the end of said shaft for movement therewith, and

seat means shaped to be engaged by said gate element in response to the bias exerted by said spring means, said seat means being adapted to be mounted around an end opening in said drum.

17. The invention as claimed in claim 16, in which said seat means is an annular elastomeric element which extends radially-inwardly past the region of engagement therewith by said gate element, the inner edge region of said elastomeric element being adapted to sealing and telescopically receive the cylindrical end of a concrete carrying and feeding drum.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,213,407 1/1917 Pfahler 259177 1,885,350 11/1932 Hoffmann 259l77 1,919,212 7/1933 Eggert 259175 2,739,797 3/1956 Kemper 259-161 ROBERT W. JENKINS, Primary Examiner Po-ww UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent NO. 3, 567, 190 Dated March 2, 1971 Inventofls) y an It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 6, line 30 (line 29 of clairn 1), 'said drum" shoulc not start a new subparagraph. Thus, lines 27 through 32 of column 6 should read:

--- said back gate assembly including a back gateportion adapted to be shifted in a forward direction into said drum to thereby open said back end for reception of concrete from a corresponding drum telescoped therein.

Column 6, line 39 (line 2 of claim 3), before "back" inser' the Column 8, line 36 (line 5 of claim 17), cancel "sealing" and substitute sealingly Signed and sealed this 30th day of May 1972.

(S EAL) Attest:

EDK-JAHD LLFLETCHERJR. ROBERT GUTISCHALK Atcosting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

